I live in northern Maine where there is often snow during deer season, which aids in tracking. The bucks up here are some real heavyweights......what I look for when deciding if a deer is worth tracking or not is the length and width of the track, how far the deer sinks when it steps, and how far it' s hoofs splay (hence my name). When there is only a few inches of snow, it is generally the bucks that leave dew claw imprints. Also, big bucks tend to drag their feet when walking along, whereas does usually lift their feet clear of the snow when it is not very deep. I often notice that bucks will drip urine as they walk, leaving telltale yellow spots in the snow. Often a big old buck will have cracked hooves, and some even have distinctively deformed hooves, like the one I hunted last season. I will be hunting him this year as well, and I will have no problem singling him out if and when I come across his track.

While these guidelines may not work all the time, they have not failed me yet. In areas where there is a lack of snow during the season, and also where bucks have less body weight, the tracking game will be a bit different.